United boss eyeing epic Manchester derby triumph

AFP, LONDON

Benitez has yet to win a league match since replacing Roberto di Matteo, while O’Neill has presided over a woeful run of two wins from the Black Cats’ past 22 league games.

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert, whose lowly side host Stoke City, and Nigel Adkins, whose Southampton team take on fellow strugglers Reading, could also do with a win and three points to keep the critics at bay.